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Microsoft Word EUVDEUVD-2026-99725

| CVE-2026-88150 HIGH
Use of Uninitialized Resource (CWE-908)
2026-10-13 secure@microsoft.com GHSA-6w26-cfvx-h69g
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: microsoft
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Craft malicious Word document
  2. Delivery
    Deliver via phishing/email
  3. Exploit
    Victim opens document in Word
  4. Execution
    Trigger use of uninitialized resource
  5. Impact
    Execute arbitrary code as user

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Variable initialization
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires a targeted user to open an attacker-crafted Microsoft Word document (UI:R), which is the primary limiting factor - there is no fully automatic or server-side trigger. No authentication or privileges are required on the attacker side (PR:N, unauthenticated), and the attack is delivered over a network (e.g., email attachment or download). The flaw stems from use of an uninitialized resource (CWE-908) in Word's document handling; code runs in the security context of the user who opens the file, so a low-privileged victim limits the initial blast radius absent further escalation. Affected builds per EUVD include Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office LTSC 2021/2024 (Windows and Mac), and Office 365 for Mac.

Impact

This is a genuine priority, though not a drop-everything emergency. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R, C:H/I:H/A:H, base 8.8 High) describes network-reachable, unauthenticated, low-complexity code execution with full confidentiality, integrity and availability impact - but the UI:R flag is the decisive mitigating signal: exploitation requires a user to open a malicious Word document, so this is a social-engineering-dependent client-side RCE, not a wormable server-side flaw. No EPSS score, CISA KEV entry, or public POC was provided in the source data, so there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and no evidence of active exploitation; the risk here is driven by the near-universal deployment of Microsoft Word and the attractiveness of Office document RCE to phishing/APT actors rather than by a confirmed exploitation signal. No SSVC decision data was supplied. Note one conflict: the input Tags label this 'Authentication Bypass', which contradicts both the CWE-908 (use of uninitialized resource) classification and the description (code execution) - the tag appears mislabeled and should not factor into prioritization.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker crafts a malicious Word document that triggers the use of an uninitialized resource and delivers it to a target via phishing email, chat, or a download link. When the victim opens the document, the flaw is triggered and arbitrary code executes in the context of the user running Word. No public exploit code was identified in the source data at time of analysis.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.7% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026

Remote code execution in Microsoft Word (part of Microsoft 365 Apps, Office LTSC 2021/2024, and Office for Mac) allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of a user who opens a crafted document. The vulnerability arises from use of an uninitialized resource (CWE-908) in Word's document parsing; although user interaction is required (UI:R), no privileges are needed on the attacker side (PR:N) and successful exploitation yields high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact (CVSS 8.8). No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, but Microsoft has released patches for affected builds.

RemediationAI

Install the vendor-supplied patch. For Microsoft Office LTSC 2024, update to version 16.0.17932.21056 or later; for Microsoft Office LTSC 2021, update to version 16.0.14334.20974 or later. Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office LTSC for Mac 2021/2024, and Office 365 for Mac are addressed through Microsoft's standard security update channels (see https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases). Refer to the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-88150 for full details. Until patching is complete, organizations can reduce risk by blocking untrusted Word documents from external sources via email gateway rules or download restrictions, though this may disrupt legitimate business workflows.

Affected VersionsENISA

Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise 16.0.1 <https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases
Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2024 16.0.0 <publication
Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 16.0.0 <16.0.17932.21056
Microsoft Office 365 for Mac 1.0.0 <publication
Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021 16.0.1 <publication
Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 16.0.1 <16.0.14334.20974

Affected Packages

euvd microsoft_office_ltsc_2021 fix: 16.0.14334.20974
euvd microsoft_office_ltsc_2024 fix: 16.0.17932.21056

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 2 packages in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The vulnerability is a use of uninitialized resource (CWE-908) in Microsoft Word's handling of document files. When Word processes a specially crafted document, it may access memory that has not been properly initialized, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates the attack is network-delivered (e.g., via email or web download), requires low complexity, needs no authentication, but depends on a user opening the malicious file. Affected builds per EUVD include Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 and 2024 on Windows, and Microsoft Office LTSC for Mac 2021/2024 and Office 365 for Mac. The uninitialized resource flaw class often stems from missing memory initialization in complex parsing code, and in this case it can be exploited to hijack execution flow in the user's security context.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 8.8 HIGH

Network delivery of a malicious document executed on open gives AV:N/AC:L/PR:N, but victim must open the file (UI:R); arbitrary code execution in user context yields C:H/I:H/A:H, scope unchanged.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).

CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Oct 13, 2026 - 20:20 EUVD
CVE Published
Oct 13, 2026 - 19:21 cve.org
HIGH 8.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Use of uninitialized resource in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A high-severity remote code execution vulnerability in Microsoft Word affects Microsoft 365 Apps, Office LTSC 2021/2024, and Office for Mac, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to run arbitrary code with the privileges of any user who opens a crafted document. Because Word is deployed across nearly every knowledge-worker endpoint, a single malicious file delivered by email, chat, or shared drive can compromise accounts, expose sensitive data, and serve as a foothold for lateral movement. Leadership should prioritize this as an organization-wide endpoint risk and drive rapid patch adoption, particularly given the breadth of affected versions and the value of Word documents as an attack delivery vehicle.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.7%
Top 46% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Microsoft Word is among the most widely deployed applications globally
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Less Likely
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.7%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

45
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0
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